Civilizations
Blog post 1
Plausible
In Laurent Binet’s recent novel “Civilizations”, he dives into his knowledge of history by making his own fictional past. In his story, and in real life, Atahualpa was the prince of the Inca empire. Atahualpa arrives in Europe on ships stolen from Christopher Columbus with the goal of conquering Peru, but the battle goes badly for Atahualpa. The troops flee and head back to the east, which created a turn of events that is different from our original history. Binets interpretation of the what ifs of this situation are very plausible. I find it very accurate that this one change in history creates undeniable butterfly effects for the rest of the story, changing Inca, Peru, and presumably other countries’ futures. Nathan Chandler, a freelance writer from the University of Northern Iowa said “The butterfly effect is the idea that small, seemingly trivial events may ultimately result in something with much larger consequences”. The small act of the Inca empire not invading Peru led to exceptional effects on the future in Binets universe.
Blog post 2
implausible
The curiosity that one can gain from Laurent Binet’s novel “Civilizations” twists the reader’s brain into thinking what if? Binet’s writing creates false storylines to explore pure interest in his own wonders and what ifs of history. For example, he makes up new entries from Christopher Columbus’ diary that are different from Columbus’ real journal entries from that time to create new paths in a historical storyline. “In a series of fragmented diary entries addressed to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Castile, we read a very different story of discovery than the one we know” (Tara Cheeseman, on Civilizations). He wonders what would have happened if Europe was the one being colonized instead of being the colonizer. Though Binets ideas are interesting, I feel that this part of this story is implausible. I think this because Europeans, at this time especially, felt a hierarchy against anybody who wasn’t European. Between social classes, race, self interest, as well as being surrounded by harsh violence, Europeans felt that they were simply just better while also being surrounded by horrific things. “Violence was considered a necessary part of life in the Middle Ages…People were surrounded by violence in many forms, including wars, brutal tournaments, and deadly rivalries for power and land.” (The J. Paul Getty Museum). Columbus came to the Americas and tortured the natives that didnt come from good intentions- his ego took over because he felt he deserved the recognition for what he felt was his own discovery. Pure desire for praise was the root of columbus’ evil acts and I don’t believe
any other group during this time had the same social classes as Europeans that could drive them to achieve such vile things for their own fame and fortune.
“On the Seawalla Community Gallery of New Writing, Art and Commentary Hosted by Ron Slate.” On the Seawall, https://www.ronslate.com/on-civilizations-a-novel-by-laurent-binet-translated-from-the-french-by-sam-taylor/.
Underground Airlines
Blog post 3
Plausible
In Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters, a black man named Victor is required to capture escaped slaves in a society where the Civil War never happened. Victor is being threatened to be put back on a plantation if he doesn’t comply. With a tracking device planted in his back, Victor has no choice but to listen. I feel that his life being controlled so heavily, with significant consequences if he does not obey, is another form of slavery. Something I find plausible in this novel is I feel the plot of the story is accurate to what would have happened if the Civil War never came about. I feel that if the Civil War never happened there would still be progression in societies acknowledgement of how wrong slavery is, just much slower. In this timeline, slavery is still happening and racism is still raging. Even the free slave states still endure racist issues, but, slavery in this book is happening in four states- eleven less than 200 years earlier. This is significantly less change in a much longer period of time when compared to our timeline of history, but it is still changing. “Without the Civil War, the abolition of slavery would have taken decades or even a century, possibly even longer.” (Civil Discourse). I do not believe that at least some of the people during the time of slavery are capable of realizing how wrong slavery is. The fact that the Civil War even had the ability to arise shows this. Even without the Civil War, there is potential that the growth in our society to get rid of slavery would have been possible.
Civil Discourse. “Could Slavery Have Died a Peaceful Death?” Civil Discourse, Civil Discourse, 26 Mar. 2015, http://civildiscourse-historyblog.com/blog/2015/3/24/could-slavery-have-died-a-peaceful-death.
Blog post 4
Implausible
The peculiar stance that Ben H. Winters takes on the possibility of a world without a Civil War in Underground Airlines initially provides plausible ideas that feel accurate to the storyline. The point where this story becomes implausible is when it is discovered that the US Government had been creating clones to be used for slavery. Cloning is not something that is possible in these circumstances, so the idea of it being a real thing takes away from the possibility of this storyline happening. Not only is cloning humans morally wrong, it is also scientifically impossible at this extent. Twenty years ago, an experiment was done on a sheep where scientists attempted to create a clone; and it worked. Significant genetic errors have been found within cloning of animals so the attempt has never been made for humans as it would clearly do the same for people. “cloning can introduce profound genetic errors, which can result in early and painful death.” (Pew research center)
Masci, David. “20 Years after Dolly the Sheep’s Debut, Americans Remain Skeptical of Cloning.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 30 May 2020, https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/02/22/20-years-after-dolly-the-sheeps-debut-americans-remain-skeptical-of-cloning/#:~:text=1%20No%20one%20has%20ever,in%20early%20and%20painful%20death.
The Man In The High Castle
Blog post 5
Within “The Man In The High Castle” by Phillip K. Dick, the United States never entered the second world war. Because the United States never entered the war, we were not able to help the allied powers be successful in defeating the axis powers, leading to Germany, Japan, and Italy winning the war. I feel the part of this book that is plausible is how the axis powers win the war simply because the United States never entered. Before America entered the war, the allied powers included England, Poland, and France. When Poland and France got overrun by Hitler, England was left standing all alone. I feel that without America stepping in to help England, the allied powers would not have won the war because England would not have been able to fight the Axis powers alone (World War II: America’s Motivation and Impact). Though in real history there was great debate in the United States on whether we should have joined the war, I believe “The Man In The High Castle” could have been a true story if we hadn’t.
“World War II: America’s Motivation and Impact.” IDCA, January 28, 2022. https://iowaculture.gov/history/education/educator-resources/primary-source-sets/world-war-ii.
Blog post 6
In “The Man In The High Castle” by Phillip K. Dick, the axis powers were successful in winning the second world war. From winning, Germany and Japan both invaded the United States from different sides and split the country down the middle. I feel that the fairness that comes from the two powers to split the sides of the country is implausible. The axis powers are seen mainly as evil beings as they would have done anything to get what they want. Both powers were fighting for power, so it seems unrealistic if they suddenly became fine with sharing the United States. At this point, the axis powers had no one else to fight, so why wouldn’t they try to fight each other to gain full power of the United States? It is easy to conclude that the axis powers were fighting for power and that their intentions were purely for their own gain.
“When the Axis Was Truly Evil.” Origins, 1 Feb. 1970, https://origins.osu.edu/history-news/when-axis-was-truly-evil?language_content_entity=en.
